Apparatus for shaping and drying basket-handles



(No Model.)

A. BURNS.

APPARATUS FOR SHAPING AND DRYING BASKET HANDLES.

No. 413,028 Patented Oct. 15, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW BURNS, OF W'ESTFIELD, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR SHAPING AND DRYING BASKET-l-lANDLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ZPatent NO. 413,023, dated October 15, 1889. Application filed April 1, 1889, Serial No. 305,621. (No model) .To (022 whom it 12mg concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW BURNS, a citi zen of the United States, residing at West= field, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Shaping and Drying Basket-Handles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for shaping and drying wooden basket-handles.

In the manufacture of baskets the shaping and drying of the handles for the same are no small part of the work. According to old methods the handles, after being out into shape, are steamed or soaked, passed around a wooden former or shaper, and then set out in the sun to dry. This, however, when large numbers of baskets are made daily, has been found a wearisome process and one which involves an expenditure of time and great delays, especially in bad weather.

In my apparatus the former or shaper consists of a hollow metallic dome or drum, through which steam passes, and from the radiation of the heat of which the handles are quickly and effectively dried and shaped.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation of my device. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, and Fig. 3 a side elevation.

The shaper is prefgrably made up of two sections, as shown, one partA being made of wood, the other part B being a hollow metallic drum or dome for the passage of steam through it.

C G are legs or supports for the machine. Two rods or rails D D pass lengthwise along the lower part of each side of the part A, at a little distance from the sides, and supported at intervals along its length by means of bolts or in any suitable way. A gage or ledge E extends along the lower edge of one side of the shaper for fixing the position of one end of the handles to be dried and shaped.

F is the steam-pipe leading to the hollow drum forming the upper section of the shaper,

and an exit-pipe similar to this inlet is pro vided at the other end of the drum,

In using mymachine the steam is first admitted to the hollow part or dome of the shaper, which soon becomes heated, and from which heat is radiated A wooden handle, in its straight and saturated condition, is then passed between the rod or pipe D and shaper A and against the gage E; then it bent around over the top of the shaperB and slipped under the rod or pipeD, where it is allowed to remain until dry. The handles, by drying, become set in the shape they assumed when bent and are ready for attachment to the baskets. It is, of course, understood that these machines maybe of any desired length, and it is preferred that they be quite long, so that one machine will hold and dry a large number of handles at a time. In this way the operation of adjusting and removing handles may be continuous, the first handle inserted being thoroughly dried before the last one is put on.

This invention is especially applicable for use in the manufacture of grape=baskets, which are manufactured in large quantities, it being a desideratum that the handles be shaped and dried quickly.

Obviously, the whole of the shaper and drier proper may be made a hollow metallic drum, but I prefer the form herein described and illustrated, c

Having now described myinvention, I claim as new-=- 1, In 'basket-handle drying machines, the combination of the shaper and drier proper, mounted on suitable supports, and rods or rails extending along either side thereof for holding the handles in place while being dried, substantially as described.

2. In basket-handle-drying machines, the combination of the shaper and drier proper, mounted on suitable supports, rods or rails extending along either side thereof for holding the handles in place while being dried, and a gage for fixing the position of the handles to be dried, substantially as described,

8. A basket-handle forming and drying machine, embracing the combination of a long hollow drum or dome part, a suitable In witness whereof I affix my signature in base part upon which the dome is mounted, the presence of two Witnesses.

said base part corresponding in general contour with the dome, a gage or ledge extend- ANDREW BURNS. ing along one side of the base part, and rodsor rails supported adjacent to the opposite WVitnesses:

sides of said base part, substantially as de CLARENCE E. \VILSQN,

scribed. GEORGE T. J EWETT. 

